For todays run I drove out from Bury St Edmunds to Thurston and parked near to the railway station. I presume what was an old railway station building from the 19th century has now been converted and is flat accommodation.

I immediately headed out of Thurston passing the grounds of Thurston House on the left side of the road. Thurston House will sadly always be linked with the Titanic. Tyrell William Cavendish was married to Julia Florence Siegel in 1906. When they bought Thurston House in 1912 they had made plans to renovate the house. However Mr Cavendish had political ambitions with thoughts of being an MP perhaps for Bury St Edmunds. Looking for funding he decided to visit Henry Siegel who was a multi millionaire on the ill fated Titanic.

Tyrell Cavendish had had uncomfortable premonitions about the voyage and made his will on the day of the voyage. They boarded the Titanic at Southampton and traveled as 1st class passengers. Mrs Cavendish survived along with the maid a Miss Nellie Barber who were rescued in a lifeboat.

Lady Cavendish sold the property without ever living there for a value of £5k. Tyrell Cavendish Hall was paid for by Lady Cavendish as a memorial to her husband and the village hall is still used by local clubs.

I ran along the Thurston Road under the A14 just before entering the village of Beyton. I ran around Beyton Green and visited both of the local pubs The Bear and the White Horse. Beyton has a true village centre with a large village green with a stream running through the centre and space for sport.

I continued past the White Horse on towards Hessett. After passing Beyton Middle School and the old Post Office now a private dwelling you come to All Saints a round tower church. I would say less than half a mile further down the road you arrive at St Ethlebert’s at Hessett this time a square tower. I took my life in my hands and entered Hessett but I didn’t notice any strange children.

After a run around Hessett I returned following the same route back to the outskirts of Thurston and decided to visit the Thurston Planche. A rather grand building in substantial grounds.

I carried on over the railway line along Barrell’s Road before returning to Stockhold Green under another railway bridge before heading up to St Peter’s Church

I retraced my steps through to the the Thurston Planche and on to the Thurston Road past Thurston House and to my car.

Lifetime 9576On a damp, dark and dreary morning I drove out to Blackthorpe a small hamlet near Rougham. I traveled along the A14 from Bury St Edmunds to Ipswich road. After about 4 miles there is a new turning which enables you to reach Blackthorpe. I parked up and ran through Blackthorpe Farm. There is always a seasonal Christmas sale here in the Barn of all the usual Christmas type paraphernalia. A lot of people also buy there Christmas trees from here or at Rougham Nurseries.

The early part of my run was along a cemented off road track through large fields of trees being prepared for future Christmas years. Eventually you emerge from Blackthorpe Farm at the edge of the A14. Home Farm is on the other side of the A14 on the edge of this very busy road which has constant noise day and night. This must effect the owners as there farm house must pick up the noise. There was a lovely reminder of former days when this road was much quieter and was then called the A45 a sign directing you to this road.

The pathway along by the A14 is short and you turn right at Rougham Nursery. Past a few houses and I was then on to the fields. The pathway takes directly to St Mary’s church at Rougham. The pathway is called Church Plantation Walk.From here I followed the road past the rectory and along to the New road, turned right and after a quarter mile arrived in the village of Rougham. Arriving from this direction as you approach the Bennets Arms Pub absoultely dominates like a brick wall at the end of New Road.

I turned left here and ran out to a small hamlet by the name of Nether Street, there is a lovely farm here and some good thatched houses. The outlaying area of Hessett is known as the Heath and just when you wonder where the main village is you arrive at Hessett Green.

Hessett is a wonderful village the Church of St Ethlebert sitting nearly opposite the local pub the Five Bells.

Beyond Hessett to the north is Beyton , Rushbrooke lies to the east , Rougham to the west and Bradfield St George to the south all very tempting to continue on my run but beaten for time again I retraced my steps back to Blackthorpe.

At Blackthorpe I was tempted to go on any another short run as I had spotted a path I think near Piegeon Lane. This takes you through Newthorpe a small hamlet. Looking at the ordnance survey map 211 the path takes you through to Eastlowhill Rd an old roman road at Rushbrooke. This is a must do for another day .

Course: From Beyton we headed out through Hessett , Gedding and Drinkstone before returning to Beyton. The course was described as undulating and had some small inclines at 3 miles and between 8 and 10 miles.

The 1st running of a new race organised by the St Edmunds Pacers in memory of the club’s late president Bert Tarpley , who died in October last year. For an inaugural race the turn out was quite good I believe around 142 runners took part from a number of clubs including St Edmunds Pacers, Brandon Fernhoppers, Ipswich Jaffa, Herne Hill Harriers, West Norfolk AC,Colchester & Tendering, Stowmarket Striders, Newmarket Joggers, waveney Valley AC, West Suffolk AC,Bilderston Bounders and one representative from Liverpool Harriers who probably came from furthest afield.

This was a very well organised race with car parking close to the start at Beyton School, excellent marshaling, a free shirt and a bag of freebies along with some lots of drinks and food afterwards.

I was pleased with my time I had hoped for under 1.25. I set of a little quick and was surprised to reach the 1st mile marker in 7.22. I stuck in at this point behind runners from Ipswich Jaffa and pretty much run with this group throughout the race. At 5 miles my time was 38.40 and I knew I just had to maintain 8 min mile pacing to get under 1.20. I only felt bad after drinking water at 4 and 7 miles this didn’t seem to do me much good.

There were also several junior fun runs which were attended by St Edmunds Pacers.

The geese near the village green are obviously in charge at Beyton, they brought traffic to halt at one point. Love the pumpkins near the car park plenty for Halloween.

I hope this race is run again next year I can thoroughly recommend it.

Weather: Sunny bright blue sky.Course: From Rushbrooke Home Farm I ran down to Eastlowhill Road which is an old Roman Road and the site of a Tumulus and a roman building. I ran through the woods around Rushbrooke Lake and then on to footpaths over fields which took me to Rougham Green out on to fields over Kingshall Street and along to Nether Street and Hessett. I returned on the same path.

This was a very enjoyable run I think I only saw 3 farmers and a lady on a bike during the whole run. The farmers were using the good dry weather to plough over the corn stubble.

The pictures using my very cheap digital camera less than a megapixel don’t do the scenery justice though I hope show the big Suffolk skies. As Suffolk is flat it has always been famed for its big skies and many landscape artists have lived and painted here for this reason.The photo of the church is that of St Nicholas at Rushbrooke. It is said to be one of the most unusual church interiors in Suffolk. When I first went inside I was surprised to see the seats face inwards a bit like the seats at the houses of parliament.

The thatched houses are seemingly farmworkers houses on the Home Farm. This seems to be a thatched ‘model ‘ farm and also organic. It is a beautiful site and well worth a visit for the peace and quietness.

The photo on the bottom right shows St Nicholas Church in the distance over the fields. If anything this picture captures the very essence of Suffolk for me.